PART I of the REGISTER

(Full Registration)

Guidance
Fees
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GENERAL GUIDANCE NOTES

The Registry is open to vessels, currently up to a limit of 150 gross tonnage (as ascertained under the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Regulations), particularly pleasure yachts. An increase in the tonnage limit for pleasure yachts up to under 400 GT is currently under consideration.

Vessels intended for commercial use (up to a maximum of 24 metres loadline length – ITC69) can be registered but must comply fully with current Codes of Practice for Small Commercial Vessels and manning requirements. Further details on Codes of Practice can be obtained from the Maritime &Coastguard Agency’s website – www.mcga.gov.uk

To qualify for registration, the majority of shares (33 of the 64) in a vessel must be owned either by a British subject or a company registered in and having its principal place of business in a British Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory. Foreign nationals may own up to 31 shares in a vessel, provided that the remainder of the shares are in ‘qualified ownership’. Any shares jointly owned by qualified and unqualified owners count as unqualified shares.

Registration of a vessel under ‘Part I’ of the Merchant Shipping (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 gives legal title to the vessel, recognition as a British ship and enables other transactions such as mortgages and Court Orders to be registered on the vessel.
In order to complete registration of a vessel, a number of documents are required as follows:-

1. Name approval (GSR 342) (This form should be submitted by fax or e-mail). On receipt of confirmation that the required vessel name is available, the following should be prepared and submitted in original form:
2. Application to register ( form C190 )
3. Appointment of authorized officer(s) (C193) (for company owned vessels).
4. Declaration of Ownership. (GC 194) for company owned shares or (GC 195) for individually or jointly owned shares.
5. Copy of the certificate of incorporation of the company, if the vessel is corporately owned.
6. Title documentation. This should consist of the builder’s certificate, for newly built vessels, or bills of sale for second-hand vessels. These forms are prescribed in law and advice should be sought from the Registry if there is uncertainty regarding the acceptability of any document. If the vessel is purchased from a qualified owner (see above) then further bills of sale must be produced to provide evidence of unbroken ownership back to a non-qualified owner or to the builder’s certificate.
7. Previous Registration. Evidence of the deletion or cancellation of any previous British or foreign registration must be provided.
8. Tonnage measurement survey. This should be commissioned at as early a stage as possible after confirmation of the vessel name has been received from the Registry. The survey can only be carried out by certain qualified surveyors and a list is available from the Registry.
9. The Initial Registration fee - £280 GBP. There are no annual tonnage taxes on British Ships registered at the port of Guernsey.

When the Registry has received ALL the required documents, formal marking instructions may be issued. This will include details of the official number (issued by the Registry), the register or net tonnage and the vessel’s name and port of registry, to be marked on the vessel in accordance with these instructions.

On completion of the marking of the vessel, either photographic evidence, as specified by the Registry should be submitted or, if the vessel is present in Guernsey, the Registrar will schedule an inspection.
When the Registrar is satisfied that vessel has been marked in accordance with Registry regulations, the Registrar will proceed to complete Registration and issue the Certificate of British Registry (commonly known as the ‘blue book’).
The Registry is normally able to process transactions and documentation presented on a same-day service basis. However, tonnage measurement surveys are outside the control of the Registry and applicants should ensure that sufficient time is allowed for the entire registration process to be completed.
All forms are available by post or on request by e-mail from the Registry and the most commonly used forms are also available from the Registry’s website.

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FEES

Registration Fees at the Port of Guernsey

Section 88 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration Regulations (Bailiwick of Guernsey) 2009
The following fees are chargeable from 1 February 2009 and are subject to variation by States decision:

The following fees are chargeable from 1 February 2009 and are subject to variation by States decision:

All fees are those in force on the date that the entry is made and must be paid prior to the transaction being recorded.
Fees may be paid by means of:

• a cheque drawn on a bank having a branch in the UK made payable to ‘States of Guernsey’
• a sterling draft payable in London
• by Credit or Debit Card (regrettably AmEx and Diners card are not accepted)
• a British postal order
• British currency (not for items submitted by post)

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This note is not intended to be conclusive in the information given and any questions on registry matters should be sent to the following address

Registry of British Ships
P.O. Box 631
St Julian's Emplacement
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 3DL
Channel Islands

Tel: 01481 720229
Fax: 01481 705824 / 714177
E-Mail: shipsregistry@gov.gg

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